Matanhy opposed Mopa airport: Alina PANAJI: Forest minister AlinaSaldanhafinally broke her silence over the Mopaairport issue, stating that her husband late MatanhySaldanhahad publicly expressed his opposition to it, as Goa could not sustain two international airports.
Chief minister Manohar Parrikar had recently said that Matanhy was in favour of Mopa airport. Even if the two (Matanhy and Parrikar) did speak about the Mopa issue, she was not aware of what transpired during the conversation, she said in a statement. Further, she said that Parrikar had clearly stated on the floor of the house that he had not stated that Matanhy supported Mopa. Matanhy was totally focused on the Dabolim airport issue, which he firmly believed was a civilian airport and the Navy was in illegal possession of the same. "Matanhy had repeatedly said that he had ample documentary evidence to prove that Dabolim airport is a civilian airport," Saldanha said. She explained that the evidence comprised gazette notifications right from the time of acquisition of land for the construction of the airport in Dabolim during the pre-liberation colonial rule to the evidence that the Indian defence authorities themselves considered the Dabolim airport to be a civilian airport. "This is in a copy of the minutes of the meeting of board of officers, held on 19/02/1962, at Panjim, under Lt Col Arjinder Singh, Commanding Officer of 17 Para AD RGTT, duly approved by the then military governor of Goa, Major General K P Kandeth, which clearly stated that the airport at Dabolim was a civil government property," she pointed out. This is a post liberation document whose authenticity cannot be challenged, she asserted. Saldanha said that the naval authorities should take cognizance of these facts and vacate Dabolim airport which they illegally occupied. In view of the above, the question of late Matanhy having supported Mopa does not arise. She urged the people to vigorously pursue the demand to revert Dabolim airport to the civilian authorities. tnn http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Matanhy-opposed-Mopa-airport-Alina/articleshow/19485801.cms joego...@yahoo.co.uk for Goa & NRI related info... http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/GOAN-NRI/ For Goan Video Clips http://youtube.com/joeukgoa In Goa, Dial 1 0 8 For Hospital, Police, Fire etc
